TONGAN PREMIER
CPress. Assn.-
INTERESTING VISITOR ARRIVES AT AUCKLAND CONDITIONS ON ISLAND
-By Telegrar.il-
-Ccpj fighti.
Auckland, W ednesday. The Prime Minister of Tonga, the Hon. Uiliami Tugi, who is consort of Queen Salote, arrived to-day from Nukualofa, with his eldest son. They will stay in New Zealand till January 23, and then leave for Sydney, where the Prince, who is 14 years of age, will cnter Newington College where his father was educated. They were greeted by a representative of the Department of Internal Affairs, and by business men connected with island trade. The Prime Minister said Tonga was hit hard by the depression, but the Treasury bad a £140,000 surplus, and even if the cojuntry liad no money the people would be able to live, because any male Tongan, on reaching the age of 16 years, received from the' State eigbt aeres of land in the bush and a quarter-acre in the village, on which he must build himself a home. On his death the land reverted to the Crown. He was compelled to grow coconuts on his bush land, and this was an insurance against starvation. Education was free and compulsory, and 99 per cent. of the people could read and write. The Tongans had proved thernselves fitted to govern themselves wisely.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/RMPOST19321208.2.35
Bibliographic details
Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 December 1932, Page 5
Word Count
215TONGAN PREMIER Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 December 1932, Page 5
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